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The Dybbuk - An opera in Yiddish. DVD : Wandering Opera
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"One of the most original and interesting projects this year" (Opera Magazine, UK). World's first original opera in Yiddish.In addition to Debussy's and Bartok's spirit, The Dybbuk leaves space for the Jewish musical tradition.
Genre: Classical: Contemporary
Release Date: 2005
Wandering Opera
The Dybbuk - An opera in Yiddish. DVD
Record Label: Wandering Opera
  • Buy CD - $18.97

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Preview Song Name Time Buy
1. Prolog 0:00 Album Only
2. Holy Ark Is Opened 0:00 Album Only
3. Song of Songs 0:00 Album Only
4. It Is So Cold 0:00 Album Only
5. Kiss the Holy Ark 0:00 Album Only
6. Congratulate Me 0:00 Album Only
7. Beggars 0:00 Album Only
8. Bride and Groom's Grave 0:00 Album Only
9. Wedding 0:00 Album Only
10. Rabbi's Home 0:00 Album Only
11. Exorcism 0:00 Album Only
12. Excommunication Circle 0:00 Album Only
13. Who Is Sighing Here 0:00 Album Only
14. Cast 0:00 Album Only

Album Notes

the dybbuk - an opera in Yiddish


70 min. subtitles: English / Hebrew
DVD. Format: PAL / Region 2


world premiere. a tale of exorcism, kabbalah, spirits, and passion


"A remarkable operatic performance" (Jewish Forward, N.Y)

"The opera The Dybbuk is highly significant in our culture arena...The love duet between the dead bridegroom and Leah standing on either side of a translucent mirror, is haunting" (HaEer weekend Magazine, Israel)


The opera the Dybbuk by the American composer Solomon Epstein is based on S. An-Sky's 1920 play, which has become a legend in Jewish culture.

This is apparently the world's first original yiddish opera. Yiddish, spoken mainly by European Jews up until World War II, is now an endangered language, and with it a rich cultural heritage threatened with being lost forever.

The Dybbuk is a tale, which takes place in a small Jewish town where the souls of both the living and the dead transcend their respective realms. Leah and Hanan, a Kabbalah student, fall in love. Soon after Hanan is overcome by powers beyond his control and dies, a male voice emanates from Leah's body. The spirit of Hanan has taken control of her in the form of a demon, a dybbuk, and refuses to leave. In this respect, the Dybbuk is a passionate play which was destined to become an opera: An especially riveting moment occurs when the soprano, Leah, opens her mouth to sing, Hanan's tenor voice is heard, and an elusive vocal exchange begins.

The Dybbuk, an Israeli production, directed by Rachel Michaeli and conducted by Ronen Borshevsky, is a contemporary opera which reflects the music of the period when the play was written. In addition to Debussy’s and Bartok’s spirit, The Dybbuk leaves space for the Jewish musical tradition.
The production is staged in an abridged version (70 min.). Lea, in Michaeli's Dybbuk, clings to the Dybbuk which possesses her, and protects him from those who try to banish him from her.

The opera was recorded live at the world premiere in Tel Aviv 1999, with six singers and six actors accompanied by brilliant and appreciated Israeli pianist Irit Rub-Levy. Starring in an unforgettable performance, is Swedish soprano Camilla Griehsel.

The DVD version is the new release (2005). screen: 3/4



"One of the most original and interesting
projects this year" (Opera Magazine, U.K)


"Dybbuk forsta operan pa Jiddisch" (Metro Magazine, Sweden)
"Yiddish opera opens to applause in Israel" (Times-Picayune, LA)
"A standing room crowd from around Israel flocked to the performance of The Dybbuk.Those who couldn't find seats perched on steps in the aisles"
(Jewish Chronicle weekend magazine, London)
"Growing acceptance of Yiddish shown in Opera" (Times Hammond, IN)
"First Yiddish opera revives near-dead language in Israel" (Bangor Daily News)
"Opera excites Yiddish speakers" (News and Record, NC)
"Original opera aids in revival of Yiddish" (Record, NJ)
"Sing out: New opera reignites interest in Yiddish" (Winston-Salem Journal)
"Yiddish revived in Israel by opera" (Times - Bucks County Courier, PA)
"Yiddish opera premieres in Israel" (Register Guard, OR)

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REVIEWS

Met; or La Scala; Please Stage it!
author: Lars vd H
                            
"I have dream" of Epsteins Dybbuk with the same crew at the Met, la Scala or Bastille..orchestrated: Please let my dream come true! This DVD is important; It spreads Yiddish & jewish folklore through an opera & it does it well, even though I really miss subtitles in Yiddish. I don't think that the ordinary "Pavarotian" would enjoy Dybbuk, but it's good to spread it around. The DVD is simple but well done, the piano and the props disturbs me, but the story and crew are good. It's worth more than all cents and minutes you spend, as it quite cheap to buy. Thus; Buy 2, give one to a friend & discuss your last Dybbuk-encounter on DVD or IRL.

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This film shoots flashbacks of a childhood all but missed and fills me with stre
author: Hadaf Dayeq
                            
Here is a production that brings me home and takes me straight to the stars.
The opera delivers a tasteful performance with emotional waves of affection and streams of fear, jealousy and anxiety that only Epstein's score for An-sky's Dybbuk could provide. I hope to watch it again and again for many years to come!

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the stage production was excellent
author: Yael
                            
I haven't yet watched the DVD, but I did see the original stage production (recorded on the DVD), and found it unique and fascinating. The famous story was beautifully dramatized, the music powerful, and the staging very effective. It seemed to me that Yiddish is a perfect language for opera, which brought up the question how come it took so long for someone to do it. I've been waiting for a chance to see it again...

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a unique operatic experience and a sexy soprano
author: B. Katz
                            
based on my favorite of all time plays "The Dybukk" ,and as opera freak, I couldnt wait watching this DVD. Taking a plot where the woman is possesed by a male voice , and adapting it to an opera , was a brilliant idea.
The tennor/soprano vocal exchange out of Leahws mouth, is a unique operatic experience.
Camilla Griehsel, Leah, is not just a great vocal artist, but also the best and sexiest actress i have ever seen on the opera stage.
Pianist Irit Rub-Levi is exellent and sounds like a whole orchestra.
Dont miss it.

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